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We again received over 200 entries in our Open House San Diego (OH! San Diego) photo competition. Thank you for your submissions! We hope you are enjoying OH! San Diego and the opportunities it provides to take some unique shots. Check out the gallery. Our judges selected first and second …

We again received over 200 entries in our Open House San Diego (OH! San Diego) photo competition. Thank you for your submissions! We hope you are enjoying OH! San Diego and the opportunities it provides to take some unique shots. Check out the gallery.

Our judges selected first and second place winners in three categories, Interior, Exterior and Detail. Congratulations to the winners! We look forward to next year’s event and some more fabulous photos of our great places and spaces! Drop a line to info@sdarchitecture.org if you have any feedback on the photo competition.

Interior Category

First Place: Oliver Asis Photography (image below of All Souls Episcopal Church | Site 65)

During Open House San Diego, March 25 & 26, there are four opportunities to tour the historic landmark, Chicano Park with its collection of vibrant murals painted on the pillars, abutments and ramps of the Coronado Bay Bridge in Barrio Logan. We are fortunate to have these tours be led …

During Open House San Diego, March 25 & 26, there are four opportunities to tour the historic landmark, Chicano Park with its collection of vibrant murals painted on the pillars, abutments and ramps of the Coronado Bay Bridge in Barrio Logan. We are fortunate to have these tours be led by one of the mural artists, Mario Torero. We sat down with Mario to talk about what he sees for the future of Barrio Logan, as well as to get a taste of what tour attendees will experience.

Mario, born in Peru, came to Barrio Logan at the age of twelve, right about the time when the Barrio was just beginning to establish itself. In 1970, the people of Barrio Logan reclaimed land intended for a California Highway Patrol substation and created Chicano Park, a testament to the strength and beauty of their culture. Many people from the community helped make the park what it is today, including Mario and his father. Mario has been extremely involved in the development of the arts in not only the Barrio Logan area, but also East Village and Downtown San Diego.

Since Mario first settled in San Diego, he has seen the impact that Barrio Logan has had on the city of San Diego, helping make it the outstanding cultural hub that it is today. Mario states that as things change throughout the city of San Diego, it is crucial to remember that San Diego is most importantly a “cultural city.” This is something that Mario, as well as many other artists and community members in Barrio Logan, fear is going to disappear as the city continues to move into a new age. In order to combat this, Mario and many others are trying to raise awareness of the change that is happening, not so that they can prevent the change, but rather so they can ensure that the culture that has been established by the people of Barrio Logan is embraced and is incorporated into this new age of the city of San Diego. Learn more about Mario from his website, fuerzamundo.org, and connect with him on Facebook at facebook.com/mariotoreroartivist/.

This topic of cultural importance leads us into what exactly you will be able to expect on one of Mario’s four tours during Open House San Diego. He will walk the groups throughout Chicano Park, which he calls “the protector of Barrio Logan.” Mario will stop at each mural along the way and tell you not just about the surface of each mural, but also the historical and cultural meaning behind each one. This history is very important to understanding just what Barrio Logan, and Chicano Park mean to the city of San Diego. Mario hopes that through these tours, he will help people be able to see the culture that he lives and breathes, and realize that it is something that needs to be a part of the future of the city.

Artist Mario Torero

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The San Diego International Airport Rental Car Center, put together by a large team: Demattei Wong Architects and Tucker Sadler Architects – Architecture, KTU+A – Landscape Architecture and WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff – MEP/FP/IT/Civil/Structural, Amy Landesberg (Artist) & Christian Moeller (Artists), has been nominated for an Onion in architecture, and Orchids in the categories of architecture, landscape architecture, and miscellaneous. The structure was completed in 2015 and can’t be missed when driving into downtown on the 5 freeway. Below we will take a look at what people are saying so far about the structure.

Orchid:

The San Diego International Airport Rental Car Center has been nominated for an Orchid in architecture, landscape architecture, as well as in the miscellaneous category. Nominators have raved about this structure saying that it has follows the idea of “beautiful form, mindful function.” Nominators have highlighted that the seamless, and flowing design of the building is highlighted especially at night by the colorful lighting installed all around it. This building is highly efficient, being as it brings all of the rental car companies into one location, eliminating the existing rental car traffic on Harbor. Another thing that the nominators have pointed out is that the designers did a fantastic job of including some really cool art in the structure. One last positive thing that has been said is that the landscaping of the surrounding area is highly sustainable. Needless to say, many of people have found the design of the new rental car center to be absolutely great. Check out the Orchid nominations Here, Here, and Here.

Onion:

The San Diego International Airport Rental Car Center has also been nominated for an Onion in architecture. The nominator states that they had a couple of problems with this structure. First of all, it is stated that the structure itself is so large, that it blocks what once was a beautiful view of the bay from the freeway side of the structure. Another problem that the nominator has pointed out is that even though the structure was completed just about a year ago, it is already showing signs of poor aging, which can certainly be concerning. Check out the Onion nomination here.

We would love to hear everyone’s ideas on what they think of this building. We highly encourage you all to speak your mind in the comment section at each nomination post. Orchid or Onion? Let’s get this conversation started!

HUB: 1030 University Ave, San Diego HUB (Hillcrest Uptown Block) was a remodel project of the former Uptown District shopping center. Graham Downes, MCG Architects, Hollis Brand Culture, Jose Parral, Ron Neal Lighting Design, Jones Sign, and Bycor Construction all had a hand in what the final product of the remodeled …

HUB: 1030 University Ave, San Diego

HUB (Hillcrest Uptown Block) was a remodel project of the former Uptown District shopping center. Graham Downes, MCG Architects, Hollis Brand Culture, Jose Parral, Ron Neal Lighting Design, Jones Sign, and Bycor Construction all had a hand in what the final product of the remodeled shopping center looks like. HUB, like many other nominations, has received both nominations as an Orchid, and an Onion. To get the conversation about this development going, let’s take a look at what the nominators had to say.

Orchid:

HUB was nominated for an Orchid by someone in the community. The nominator of this project states that HUB does a very good job of up-keeping the vibe presented by Hillcrest as a whole. According to the nominator, since Hillcrest is not a “cookie cutter neighborhood,” the somewhat randomness of HUB actually fits in quite nicely, and helps maintain the difference between Hillcrest and other neighborhoods. The nominator also pointed out that the neat abstract nature of this redevelopment is inspired by 10 very interesting murals placed throughout the area. Check out the Orchid nomination here.

Onion:

While HUB was nominated for an Orchid, it was also nominated by members of the community for an Onion. The nominators who believe that HUB should receive an Onion feel quite different about the abstract style that it uses. They state that the wall murals are mismatched, the logo for the shopping center is off with it being white writing on a white building, and that the new patio area outside the Starbucks has been made less attractive through some kind of I-beam like structures. On top of this, they believe the colors selected for the buildings are all wrong, and that because of all of these issues, the center comes across as being somewhat tacky. Check out the Onion nomination here.

We would love to hear everyone’s ideas on what they think of this building. We highly encourage you all to speak your mind in the comment section at each nomination post. Orchid or Onion? Let’s get this conversation started!

The La Jolla Historical Society, with the help of the San Diego Architectural Foundation, put on PechaKucha 25. The event was held at the beautiful Wisteria Cottage in La Jolla, California on September 29th. The night began at 7 PM, allowing the crowd to accumulate and give the visitors …

The La Jolla Historical Society, with the help of the San Diego Architectural Foundation, put on PechaKucha 25. The event was held at the beautiful Wisteria Cottage in La Jolla, California on September 29th. The night began at 7 PM, allowing the crowd to accumulate and give the visitors an opportunity to check out the ins and outs of the cottage. Around 8:20, all of the guests were prompted to take their seats out on the lawn in front of the cottage. Approximately 200 guests filled the entirety of the front lawn where they were able to listen to the speakers, and view the images projected on the side of the building.

PechaKucha 25 ended up being quite the hit with the public. The topics of the speakers, while all focused on the same area, were very diverse in the paths that they took, and the ways in which they were presented. One of the wonderful speakers at the event was Ione Stiegler. In her six minute talk, Ione focused on the history of Wisteria Cottage itself, and how exactly it came to be the landmark that it is today. While the natural tendency of PechaKucha speakers is to go rather quickly, and to skip some details, Ione was able to go into a great amount of detail about what the La Jolla Historical Society has been able to discover about what this cottage, designed by Irving J. Gill, originally looked like. Another one of the multitude of fantastic speakers from this PechaKucha night was David Marshall. In his talk, David took a rather different approach than those of the speakers before him. Most of the speakers of the night tended to focus a little more on their speeches than the images that were provided on the screen. David, on the other hand, showed many different old post cards from all around La Jolla, and then showed what the locations depicted in the post cards looked like today. David’s talk, and post card “tour” around the city was a wonderful way to cap off yet another very successful PechaKucha night.

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EV Lofts: 688 13th St, San Diego EV Lofts, located in the East Village District, is a five-story building dedicated to housing and retail. The building contains 208 individual apartments, as well as two separate retail locations on the ground floor. The McMillan project, designed by Pappageorge Haymes Partners, AVRP, and …

EV Lofts: 688 13th St, San Diego

EV Lofts, located in the East Village District, is a five-story building dedicated to housing and retail. The building contains 208 individual apartments, as well as two separate retail locations on the ground floor. The McMillan project, designed by Pappageorge Haymes Partners, AVRP, and Jules Wilson Interior Design, like many other buildings, has been nominated for both an Orchid and an Onion. Below we will take a brief look at the conversation already going on in the community regarding this structure.

Orchid:

EV Lofts has been nominated as an Orchid in Architecture and an Orchid in Interior Design by the community. The consensus between the positive reviews of the apartment complex is that the building does a good job bringing together all of the elements presented by the surrounding community. Nominators specifically highlighted the use of minimalist architecture, alongside the art and graphical nature of the interior of the building for their influential role on how exactly this design ties together the ideas of the locals. Check out the Orchid nominations Here, and Here.

Onion:

EV Lofts has also been nominated by the community for an Onion in Architecture. One of the primary issues that the nominator presented is the somewhat strange disproportionate nature of the building. The nominator highlighted that some windows are larger than others and seem to follow no distinguishable pattern, as well as the fact that the balconies are slightly off in alignment from one another as something that was quite maddening. On top of this, the nomination stated that the floorplans of the individual apartments were quite confusing, in that they have long and narrow hallways that are not compatible with the needs of the average person. Check out the Onion nomination here.

We would love to hear everyone’s ideas on what they think of this building. We highly encourage you all to speak your mind in the comment section at each nomination post. Orchid or Onion? Let’s get this conversation started!

Cesar Chavez Campus: 1901 Main Street, San Diego The Cesar Chavez Campus, designed by Martinez + Cutri Corporation, has been nominated for both an Orchid and an Onion in architecture. The campus is located in the heart of Barrio Logan on the corner of Main Street and Cesar Chavez Parkway and …

Cesar Chavez Campus: 1901 Main Street, San Diego

The Cesar Chavez Campus, designed by Martinez + Cutri Corporation, has been nominated for both an Orchid and an Onion in architecture. The campus is located in the heart of Barrio Logan on the corner of Main Street and Cesar Chavez Parkway and plays a large part in the revitalization of the area. Below, we will take a look at what the community has to say about the project so far.

Orchid:

As stated above, the Cesar Chavez Campus has been nominated for an Orchid in the architecture category. The nominators really emphasizehow this campus has affected the local community in Barrio Logan. They state that the structure does a great job incorporating the designs of Latin American culture. Their nominations also say that it promotes the ideals of monumentality, materiality, and textures that are prevalent in Mayan and Aztec culture. Overall, those who have nominated the Cesar Chavez Campus for an Orchid, believe that it does a great job communicating the rich heritage of the Latin American people. Check out the Orchid nomination here.

Onion:

The Cesar Chavez Campus has also been nominated for an Onion in architecture. While some believe that the way the designers incorporated Mayan and Aztec designs is aesthetically appealing, some believe the way they are incorporated to be a little bit tacky. The nominators say that the different shapes and patterns of the windows look like a collage of shapes that do not work for them aesthetically. The nominators even go so far to say that the building is “turning its back on the revitalization of Barrio Logan.” Check out the Onion nomination here.

We would love to hear everyone’s ideas on what they think of this building. We highly encourage you all to speak your mind in the comment section at each nomination post. Orchid or Onion? Let’s get this conversation started!

North Park Post Office Lofts: 3077 North Park Way, San Diego Redone by FoundationForForm Architecture & Development, the North Park Post Office Lofts have been nominated for both an Orchid and an Onion in architecture. The post office, closed in 2010, was a landmark in the area. In order to keep …

North Park Post Office Lofts: 3077 North Park Way, San Diego

Redone by FoundationForForm Architecture & Development, the North Park Post Office Lofts have been nominated for both an Orchid and an Onion in architecture. The post office, closed in 2010, was a landmark in the area. In order to keep the landmark, the post office was developed into the housing units we know it to be today. Below, we will take a closer look at the conversation so far on the lofts.

Orchid:

Stated above, the North Park Post Office Lofts have been nominated for an Orchid in architecture. The nominator really put a heavy emphasis on how well the new design continues the legacy of the old post office. They say this because of things like the steel exterior of the structure. The nominator has pointed out that the pattern of the steel alludes to the parcel scanner barcodes used by mail sorters. It is also worth noting that the color scheme of the design is quite subtle, allowing the original building to be highlighted. Check out the Orchid nomination here.

Onion:

The North Park Post Office Lofts were also nominated for an Onion in architecture. The nominator feels that the overall design of the new structure does not do a very good job of fitting into the design style of the community. The nominator points out that the building is located in a 1920’s neighborhood, which makes the use of metal in all sorts of obscure angles in the design of the new structure not work with the overall design of the neighborhood. Another thing that the nominator has pointed out is that the rather large new structure provides the neighborhood with a lot of density that is not necessarily welcomed by the community. Check out the Onion nomination here.

We would love to hear everyone’s ideas on what they think of this building. We highly encourage you all to speak your mind in the comment section at each nomination post. Orchid or Onion? Let’s get this conversation started!

The San Diego Architectural Foundation held its 3rd Context event on June 2, 2016, at the end of the Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego. This Context event, titled “A Day on the Bay,” focused on visioning a smart bayfront. The event was split into two parts: Part One, which …

The San Diego Architectural Foundation held its 3rd Context event on June 2, 2016, at the end of the Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego. This Context event, titled “A Day on the Bay,” focused on visioning a smart bayfront. The event was split into two parts: Part One, which was open to the public, and Part Two, which was a ticketed event.

To start off Part One of the event, all of SDAF’s wonderful sponsors were given the opportunity to set up a booth where the public could come and inquire about their businesses. After seeing all of the organizations and businesses who took part in the event, guests were prompted to take a seat to listen to the first talk of the day. The first talk, given by Leslie Nishihira of the Unified Port of San Diego, revealed to guests the changes that are currently being made, as well as the plans for the further development of their section of the Bay. One of the changes that was highlighted by Nishihira was the upcoming Portside Pier project. This development will take up the space just south of the Maritime Museum of San Diego. The space will be divided up into 4 different pieces. Each of these pieces will be occupied by a different type of restaurant or bar. On the ocean side of the proposed project, there will be a public dock, allowing people to dock their boats and grab a nice meal.

Part Two of Day on the Bay started at 5:15pm with beverages provided by the Snake Oil Cocktail Company, and food provided by Eddie V’s, Seasons 52, Coasterra, Asaggio, and Jerry G. Bishop’s Greek Islands Cafe. At 7pm, the panel talk, moderated by Jennifer Luce, and given by Chula Vista City Manager Gary Halbert, City of San Diego’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer David Graham, Port Environmental Advisory Committee member Robert Nelson, and Unified Port of San Diego leader Jason Giffen, began. Jason Giffen spoke about the relatively new approach that the group is using in planning the future of the ports of San Diego. The group calls it “integrated planning.” Integrated planning is a holistic based approach to planning. Essentially, instead of thinking of the different ports as individual plans, the Unified Port of San Diego thinks of all the plans together as a network of plans. Because of this, when considering new proposals for the ports, it is crucial to think about how one plan works with the other plans. To start the planning process, they begin with a large scale master plan, where they hammer out all of their ideas, and figure out just exactly what they want to see in the future in the ports. Then the group looks to each one of the ports individually, and figures out how they can integrate this master plan into each redevelopment. This idea of integrated planning helps keep one consistent theme in the development of the ports, and allows San Diego as a whole to get the very most out of its ports.

The point of this Context event was to let the public experience the future of the San Diego Bay. The people of San Diego play an integral role in the future of the redevelopment of each space. Through A Day on the Bay, the Unified Port of San Diego was not only able to obtain a general idea of what the San Diego community thinks of each plan, but they were also able to get some feedback from other San Diego residents. Events like this one allow for the public to really make the bay their own. This is certainly a very exciting time for San Diego as a whole as the upcoming plans for the bay feature some outstanding eateries, and certainly some future San Diego landmarks.

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San Diego Architectural Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to education and promotion of outstanding architecture, planning and urban design throughout the San Diego region.